use 50% of browns and 50% green materials

browns:

wood chips

straw

dry leaves

cardboard

paper

greens:

freshly cut grass

fruits and vegs

bread, pasta

and most of all kitchen scraps

The smaller the pieces of your starting materials the quicker they will be decomposed. Good size is about 2-5 cm.

Any time you have a kitchen leftovers (for example), which are “greens”, mix them with approximately same amount of “browns”. Add the mix to your composter and water it. You don’t have to mix your pile after, just let the microbes do their job. You can add a little bit every day or week, or whenever. Be careful with a bigger amount: the volume about 0.5 - 1 cubic meter and larger in one go will create lots of heat, and it is slightly different approach to composting: they call it Hot, or Thermophilic, and it will be another post about it.

When you put lots of greens in one place you’ll see it will start to get mould and, probably, unpleasant smell. It happens because there is not enough air in the pile. To prevent it we mix greens with coarse browns, so it creates air pockets in the pile.

This type of composting conditions we call A E R O B I C

Be careful with fine browns too: for example, saw dust in large amount will create an area with not enough oxygen also, so always mix.

Fresh conifer wood chips are very hungry for nitrogen, so it is good idea to put them aside and wait for a few months until their smell is gone.

The next step is to keep your pile moist: all the microbes that will decompose the materials depend on water.

Good idea is to have your composter on the ground with the bottom opened but protected with a metal mesh so you can add meat, fish and dairy into your pile. To prevent stinky stuff from this materials you can bury them under a layer of greens/browns mix, and the smaller the pieces – the faster they will disappear in your compost. You can use your blender to make a mince or a smoothie, mixing it with water – it’s easy and fast decomposing thing.

Earthworms will be happy to come into the pile from the ground and join the community of decomposers!

Bear in mind that plant seeds will not be decomposed with this cold composting method, so avoid putting seeded weeds into it. On a plus side you can get some free pumpkin, tomato or pepper seedlings from your compost.

It will take about one year of your starting materials to be turned into wonderful forest floor scented 70% chocolate colour compost which your plants will love!